Micah Richards: Third place for Morocco at 2022 Qatar World Cup is 'about leaving a legacy'
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Updated 17/12/2022 at 15:02 GMT
Morocco have been the surprise package of the World Cup and they have impressed after reaching the semi-finals. On Saturday they have the chance to win third place as they come up against Croatia, and former England international Micah Richards believes that to win the game would be a way to leave a legacy for what is already an outstanding achievement.
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Micah Richards believes the third place playoff game is a chance for Morocco to leave a legacy.
Morocco are the first African and first Arabic country to reach the semi-finals of the World Cup, and so a third-place finish would also be the highest achievement for the team.
They play Croatia on Saturday afternoon as the two losing semi-finalists contest one final game to decide their final standings.
Speaking on BBC One, former Manchester City and Aston Villa defender thinks that Morocco’s players will consider the game a chance to potentially earn a move elsewhere.
“It’s a shop window,” he said. “Now they’re playing on the big stage and have been outstanding, it’s a good chance to showcase.”
For the team itself, Richards thinks that it is a chance to make history to mark their achievement in Qatar so far.
He continued: “It’s about leaving a legacy. When we’re watching them play, the last couple of games they've been on the front foot, knowing the quality they have and they have been a joy to watch.”
Former England international Alex Scott explained that finishing third with her country in the 2015 World Cup gave them an impetus to improve further.
“The pride that has come along, from not only their own country, but around the world,” she said. “The passion they’ve played with, they’ve won so many people over.
“For us, 2015 was everything for us. We have a bronze medal - but how do we turn that into a gold: Winning that bronze medal changed so many things.”
Former Germany and United States manager Jurgen Klinsmann said the same of his own German team’s achievement.
“It was super important to us to finish the tournament on a good note, and say thank you to our supporters. For us it was a festival. In Germany they called the summer fairytale because everyone was in such a good mood.
“We underestimated what it meant to the fans. We will never forget that, it means a lot to win a game for third place.”
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